A "Free" Vacation?

[bub]

Okay, I know that our DVC vacations are far from free! But if you have a non-expiring ticket with days remaining (or an AP still valid), and you only stay in DVC accommodations, and if you're even good enough (as we usually are) to take advantage of the kitchen facilities and eat some meals in the room, doesn't it almost feel like a free trip?

We have some other travel expenses coming up this year (and we need a new roof, besides) but when my daughter asked what we would be doing this summer, it felt good to say "We're going to Disney World!" and know that we can do this, thanks to joining DVC. (Think they'll want to put me on one of the videos now? LOL)

 

[DVCLiz]

We went to Hilton Head for 5 days this summer. We drove our own car, so no airfare or rental car costs. We used our DVC points, so no hotel costs. We didn't need park tickets. So, far the cost of gas and groceries, we had a "free" HH vacation. (We did spend money on some dinners out, on rental of beach chairs and umbrellas, and on some miscellaneous things like mugs, etc. But if we'd needed to be more frugal, we could have brought chairs and an umbrella from home, made all our meals in the villa, and skipped the mugs and souvenirs).

Our Disney trips are "free" except for the cost of gas and our meals and shopping. We don't use the kitchen very much at Disney, but we do get in some basic groceries for snacks. etc. We use my AP and I buy 10 day non-expiring tickets when we need them, so we have admission, hotel and transportation covered. Again, we usually drive so we don't have airfare or rental car costs. That lets us splurge more on eating out and buying souvenirs.

I love my DVC!!!!!

 

[NCRedding]

I'm looking forward to our relatively cheap trip in January. Our DVC points cover the villa at OKW; airline miles will cover the airfare; we have park hopper tickets from old trips; we have $525 in reward dollars to use toward our meals out.

Now if I can just figure a way to pay for our rental car (or just use ME), then we'll have a reasonably cheap vacation (realizing that I have already paid forDVC, etc).

 

[DVC Grammy]

By making our AP's cover at least 3 trips, using DME, going off-season and getting Ding fares (luckily), our trips feel "free", too.
If it weren't for DVC, there is no way we could afford to go to WDW for as many days per year and stay in such luxurious hotels as we do!
There truly is "No place like (DVC) home"!

 

[cdmickey]

We figured we were coming to Disney twice a year anyway. For the same price (or there abouts), we could upgrade the quarters we stayed at, from an economy onsite or a moderate onsite (on discount) to a Villa's Studio and occassionly a one bedroom. Free, hardly, but a definite quality experience improvement.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

We're going for a quick trip in January (three nights) for the Pirates and Princess Party (with DVC discount), staying at OKW (on points), and using airline vouchers for a free flight (we got these when we were bumped off a flight).

That's an even better "free" trip.

 

[lillasmom]

A couple years ago, I used points to stay at Disney for the Super Soap Weekend. I used frequent flyer miles for my airline ticket, and my Disney credit card points for spending money. I went by myself, which was great, and not having to pay for anything but shopping really made it seem like it was free. Can't beat that. I'm planning a similar trip for next year. DVC points, frequent flyer miles, and credit card points! I can't wait!

 

[bpmorley]

Okay, I know that our DVC vacations are far from free! But if you have a non-expiring ticket with days remaining (or an AP still valid), and you only stay in DVC accommodations, and if you're even good enough (as we usually are) to take advantage of the kitchen facilities and eat some meals in the room, doesn't it almost feel like a free trip?

We have some other travel expenses coming up this year (and we need a new roof, besides) but when my daughter asked what we would be doing this summer, it felt good to say "We're going to Disney World!" and know that we can do this, thanks to joining DVC. (Think they'll want to put me on one of the videos now? LOL)

Yes it does feel like a free vacation. We took 4 trips from 6-05 to 5-07. We considered 2 of them free since we had AP's.